Blank feeding mechanism



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Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William Cameron, Chicago, 111.,

assignor to Cameron Can Machinery 00., Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application October 9, 1929. Serial No. 398,354

24 Claims.

This invention relates to blank feeding mechanisms for delivering blanks from a source of supply such as a magazine to feeding devices or operating mechanisms and more particularly to blank feeding mechanisms especially well adapted for use in can making machinery such as a lock seamer. It will be apparent, however, that the principles of this invention which will be illustrated in connection with a lock seamer may be applied to other uses and to other units in can making machines. In a lock seamer a blank formed of a sheet of tin plate cut to size is fed from a stack of such blanks on to a slide which constitutes a feeding device or conveyor for carrying the blanks deposited thereon past edging and notching devices to a forming horn around which the blank is formed and the edges thereof locked to constitute a cylindrical or otherwise shaped can body after which the side seam is soldered.

If the blanks are formed into a can body directly from a flat sheet, flats around the perimeter of the body are likely to occur, that is, the body will not have a truly cylindrical shape. It is preferable therefore to prepare the blanks by rolling or flexing the blanks prior to the forming into a cylindrical form. It has been found preferable to flex the blanks by reversely bending the same, that is by passing the blanks through rollers which will first bend the blank in one direction and then in another.

The ultimate output of lock seamers for instance has heretofore been limited by the speed at which the sheets could be prepared and fed veniently fed to the preceding mechanism. For

this reason many attempts have been made to speed up the initial feeding device with varying degrees of success.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide preparing and feeding devices which will prepare and feed the blanks to a succeeding'operation, in the present illustrated instance to a conveyor in the form of a slide leading and trans ferring the blanks to the horn and associated shaping or forming devices of a body maker, at a relatively high speed and thus not limit the productive output of the horn and forming devices, but increase the production of themachine. Acr cordingly, threare provided two feeding units or what may be termed a duel feeding mechato the feeding devices which present the blanks nism comprising two units for preparing and feeding from alternate supply stacks to a single slide the latter term being used to mean any conveyor, guiding, or transferring means leading to a forming horn and associated forming or other operative devices, the feeding units being timed to feed sheets or blanks of stock alternately into the machine and onto the horn.

There is further provided a novel rolling unit for preparing the blanks and to be used in conjunction with each feeding unit of the dual system. It has been found that by giving the blank 2. reverse bend during the rolling operation, the sheet when formed is less likely to have fiat sections, particularly around the edges thereof than when the sheet is prepared by merely rolling it in one direction.

Other novel features and details of construction of the various elements will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of this invention described by way of illustration in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rolling and feeding end of a body making machine employing the dual feeding and rolling unit.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section of a dual feeding device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but with certain parts removed and others in section for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the feeding units of the dual system.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the center of the feed end of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical end section on line 66 of Fig. 3 showing the transfer feed mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 3 showing the feed from the stack.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view on line8-8 of Fig. 3 showing the detecting cut off mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail on line 9--9 of Fig. 7 showing the slide construction of the feeding mechanism from the stack.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the magazine or stack feed.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the rolling mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-42 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section on line 14-44 of Fig. 11.

For purposes of illustration, the dual feeding system involved in this invention has been shown as applied to a body making unit of a can making machine. The entire machine is supported upon a base (not shown) having uprights 1 projecting upwardly therefrom terminating in a bed 2 1m table.

which forms the main support for the two feeding units and the central feeding slide leading to any operating mechanism such as a horn (not shown) and upon which the blanks may be formed into can bodies. It is obvious, of course, that the slide may be omitted and the blanks fed directly from alternate stacks to suitable operating mechanism.

The main drive for the machine which serves to operate all parts thereof is taken from the center of the machine. At the center thereof adjacent the front end the bed supports a crank case 3 (Figs. 2, 4, and 5) which houses the main driving shaft 4 having a helical gear 6 adjacent one end thereof and within the crank case. The other end of shaft 4 projects rearwardly externally of the crank case through a suitable bushing 7. The projecting end may be connected to any suitable source of power (not shown) by means of a chain 8 or any other desirable connection. The crank case also houses a main driving gear 9 disposed to engage gear 6 to be driven thereby and being rigidly secured to a main crank shaft 11 the latter extending transversely through each side of the crank case 3 and having its crank pin 12 disposed approximately in. the center of the crank case and adjacent gear 9. The crank pin 12 serves to drive the reciprocating feed bars for feeding the blanks along the slide to the horn as will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter. For hand operation there is provided a hand wheel 14 rigidly secured to one end of a shaft 16 rotatably supported in suitable bearings 17 and 18 formed upon the lower surface of crank case, 3. Shaft 16 carries a pinion 19 on one end thereof which engages with a gear 21 rigidly secured to shaft 4. Shaft 16 is mounted for axial movement whereby it may be slid manually in an axial direction in order to bring gear 19 into or out of engagement with gear 21.

The bed 2 also serves as the main support for a table 22 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6) constituting one end of a slide 23 leading to the forming horn (not shown). Blanks deposited upon table 22 by a dual feeding system, later to be described, are fed intermittently along the slide by means of reciprocating feed bars 24 having projecting feed dogs 25 thereon. The feed bars 24 are disposed, one upon each side of table 22 slidable in guideways and are operatively connected together for simultaneous operation by a tie bar 26 ig. 5) carried by the upper end of a cross head 27. The bars 24 are reciprocated through the medium of the cross-head 27, mounted for horizontal reciprocatory movement upon guideways formed in the frame of the machine the lower end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 28, the other end of connecting'rod 28 being connected to crank pin 12. Thus, as shaft 11 is rotated, connecting rod 28 will impart a reciprocating movement to cross head 27, bar 26 and feed bars 24, carrying dogs 25 which in turn will feed blanks along the slide in step by step movement. The foregoing mechanism is not broadly new and is therefore not described in greater detail.

A cover 29 overlies the table 22, the cover being hinged at'its rear, edge as at 31 and being provided with a handle 32 and latch 33 whereby the cover may be held in close proximity to the In order to hold the sheets closely upon the table and prevent them from buckling, the cover 29 is provided with presser fingers 34 which project slightly through the under surface of the cover to engage the blank and force it into contact with the table.

In order to prepare and feed blanks to the table 22 and thence along the slide at a speed commensurate with the capable speed of the forming mechanism, there is provided a dual feeding and preparing mechanism comprising two units, one disposed upon each side of the table 22 and arranged to feed-blanks thereto. The feeding units are so timed relatively to each other that the blanks are fed alternately from each unit onto the table 22. Each feeding and preparing unit comprising a magazine and suitable members for removing, preparing and transferring the blanks is carried by a frame 36 slidingly mounted upon bed 2, one upon each side of table 22, the frame being provided with a lug 37 (Figs. 2 and 6) projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof through an opening in bed 2. Lug 3'7 engages a screw shaft 38 which carries a worm wheel 39 engaged by a worm 41 keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 42. Shaft 42 may be squared on its outer end as at 43 in order that it may be engaged by a wrench or operating medium. By rotating shaft 42, screw shaft 38 is caused to rotate and move the entire frames 36 to the right or left to accommodate each feeding unit to different sizes of blanks. The frames may be locked in adjusted position by means of bolts 35 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). Inasmuch as the two feeding and preparing units are the same, only one unit will be described in detail. The blanks are supplied alternately from each of a pair of magazines one upon each side of the slide and delivered from the bottom thereof generally in the manner shown in my Patent No. 1,283,659 issued November 5, 1918. Accordingly frame 36 carries a-magazine (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10) comprising adjustable end walls 44, front guides 46, adjustably bolted to the end walls 44, and rear guide 47, all carried by a bed plate 48, the latter being an integral part of frame 36, and being slotted to permit adjustment of the other walls thereon. The rear guide 4''! is secured to the cover of the detecting table later to be described and does not reach to the bottom of the stack thus permitting the lowermost blank to be removed rearwardly. The ends of the sheets or blanks rest upon and are supported by adjustable reciprocating platforms 49 which set in the bottoms of the end walls 44 the latter being recessed for this purpose. The platforms 49 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) extend substantially across the width of the magazine and are provided with laterally projecting bifurcated lugs 52 which engage arms 50 carried upon the ends of posts 53. The platforms are secured in selected position upon arms 50 by means of bolts 51 (Fig. 1) passing through the bifurcated ends 52 of platforms 49, the ends 52 passing through slots cut through the end walls 44 to permit vertical movement of ends 52 and platforms 49. In order to separate the lowermost sheet in the magazine from-the superimposed sheets so that the lowermost sheet may be fed from the magazine, the ends of the blanks are intermittently raised by the platforms 49, as can be seen from Figs. 2, 4, and 10 posts 53 which carry the platforms 40 are adjustably mounted on a crosshead 54, the ends of the latatmosphere.

nected between'the bifurcated ends of the link 57, the other end of the latter link being rigidly secured to a rock shaft 58. Also secured to rock shaft 58 is another bifurcated arm 59 extending at right angles to link 57, arm 59 having its free end connected to the end of an eccentric rod 61, the other end of which terminates in an eccentric strap 62 engaging an eccentric 63 upon the end of a transverse crank shaft 64, having a crank pin 65 intermediate its ends. Shaft 64 (Fig. 3) is journaled in two bearings 66 and 67 supported upon frame work 36. Upon the opposite end from eccentric 63 shaft 64 carries a gear 68 which meshes with a gear 69 (Fig. 4) therebelow keyed to a longitudinal drive shaft 71 which extends forwardly of the machine and carries upon its forward end a bevel gear '72 which in turn engages with a bevel gear '13, adjustably secured upon shaft 11. To enable axial adjustment of gear 73 when required it is secured to a split collar 74 keyed to shaft 11 for rotation therewith and axial movement thereon and is capable of being secured in any selected axial position by means of screws 76. The purpose of this axial movement is to accommodate gear 73 to bring it into mesh with gear '72 in accordance with the lateral adjustment of frame 36. It follows from the above that shaft 64 is driven from the main drive shaft 4 through gear 9 on shaft 11. The rotation of shaft 64 which carries eccentric 63 will cause the ends of the stack of blanks to be raised.

In order to separate the lowermost blank from the stack when the ends of the stack are raised there is provided (Figs. 2, 7, and 10) the usual rubber suction cup 76 mounted upon the upper end of a stationary support '77 carried by the frame 36, the cup and support having a central bore 78 therethrough to permit the application of suction to the interior of the cup. A suction line from any suitable source, not shown, is connected to the cup by means of a hose 79 (Fig. 7) connected to a slide valve 81, the stationary member of which is supported upon the frame 36 adjacent the cup support 77. The stationary member has three apertures 82, 83 and 84 therethrough, the latter of which connects to the suction hose 79 through a duct 86. Aperture 83 connects to cup '76 through ducts 78 and 87 whereas aperture 82 connects directly to the The slide member 88 is resiliently urged into tight sliding contact with the stationary member (Figs. 3 and 4) by means of springs 89 set into recesses in the slide and placed under compression between the slide and valve rod 91 which in turn is guided by a keeper 92, keeper 92 and stationary member 81 both being carried by suitable extensions of frame 36. Valve slide 88 is formed with a recess 90 opening toward the stationary member, the recess being of sufficient size to simultaneously communicate with apertures 82 and 83 or 83 and 84. When the slide is in one position apertures 83 and 84 will be in communication placing the cup under suction whereas in another position slide 88 will establish communication between apertures 82 and 83 and thus place the cup under atmospheric pressure. Valve slide 88 and rod 91 are reciprocated by a cam actuated slide bar 93 connected to rod 91 and carrying a cam roller 94 upon its inner end which is urged against cam 96 upon shaft 64 (Figs. 1 and 3) by compression spring 97 stretched between a pin projecting from slide bar 93 and a pin fixed on the frame 36. Bar 93 is guided in its reciprocatory movements by a channeled guide block 98 carried by the frame and a guide strip 99 secured to the guide block (Fig. 3) The cam is so arranged and timed that the slide valve is operated to place suction on the cup when the platforms 49 are in lowered position when the lowermost blank rests on the cup and to release the suction and connect the cup to the atmosphere when the platforms are elevated and just as the feeding devices later to be described engage the blank to feed it from the magazine.

The feeding members thus far described i. e., the platform mechanism and suction cup serve to release and separate the lowermost blank from the stack of blanks. The blank thus separated is removed from below the stack and fed toand through the detecting and preparing stations by feeding mechanisms now to be described.

A pair of reciprocating feed bars 101 (Figs. 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10) sliding in guides formed by portions of the frame 36 are disposed one upon each side of the suction head 76 and extend parallel to the main slide. These guides carry upon theirforward ends a pair of opposed angle irons 102 to which are pivoted upon pins 106 two feed dogs 103 having rearwardly projecting feed fingers 104, yieldingly urged upwardly by springs 10'? (Fig. 10) The feed bars 101 pass rearwardly below the stacks being guided upon and between guide rails carried by the frame 36. At their rear ends bars 101 are attached to a crosshead 108, the rear ends of the bars and the upper surface of the crosshead being recessed to receive a locking plate 109 bolted to the crosshead which serves 1 to secure and lock bars 101 to the crosshead. The crosshead is mounted for reciprocal movement between guides 111 formed in frame 36 and is formed with depending bifurcated lugs 112 to which is pivotally connected one end of a connecting rod 113, the crank end of which is connected to crank pin 65 of shaft 64 which shaft 115 rearwardly and deposit it upon the intermediate or detecting table 114 and up against the adjustable rear stop or guide 116 thereon. Duringthis movement the blank is passed over a detecting finger 117. The blank is held down upon the table 114 by a cover plate 118 pivoted to the table at 119 and having a pair of adjustable presser fingers 121 projecting therethrough. One of fingers 121 is positioned directly over detecting finger 117 and is adjusted vertically relatively thereto with a clearance exactly the thickness of one sheet or blank of material. If two or more blanks are fed onto table 114 the excess thickness thereof will cause finger 117 to be swung about its pivot 122 to the left (Figs. 8 and 10) thereby through link 123 actuate a lever 124 connected to an electrical switch, not shown, which serves to cut off the driving power and stop the machine. It is to be noted that the detecting finger 117 is a relatively long finger and therefore swings in a relatively flat arc to give a substantially large movement although the variance in thickness being detected is relatively small. The broad principles of operation of this detecting means forms no part of this invention but is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending applia sprocket 129 adjacent the-outer lateral edge of table 114 and over driving sprocket 131 on shaft 71. Dogs 127 are so spaced and the chain 126 so I timed that dogs 127 appear over the outer edge of table 114 in proper time and sequence to engage a-blank as it is deliveredto the table by side and-guide-116 upon the other is ,fed 'by the tween-rolls 133 and 134 is above the level of table into the bight of a pair of rolls 133 and 134 con'-'- stituting part of the forming or \preparing device (Figs. 2, 3, 6; 11 and 12).. The lower or.con-:

feed dogs 103. I v

i The blank being engaged by a dog 127- on one chain over table 114, under an idler 'roll- 132 and tacting surface of roller' 132 is normally'adjuste'd approximately on thelevel of table 114 whereas the-contacting line i. e., the lineof tangency be- 114 causing the blank to be bent upwardly as it passes under roller 132 and between rolls 133 and 134. Upon the opposite side of rolls Y133 and 134 to roll 132isa second idler roll 136, the outer surface of which extends below the contacting surfaces of rolls'133 and 134. The line of travel of the blank being under roller 132 upwardly between rolls 133 and 134 and then downwardly under roller .136 over a projecting portion 22a of table 22 and out onto table 22. Rolls 133 and and 134 are mounted upon an upper shaft 137 and a lower shaft 138 (Figs..11, 12 and 13) sub-' stantia'ally parallel thereto the shafts being spaced to'support the rolls in .longitudinal contacting relation. A bracket 142 secured to' and'pro ,a gear 160 on stub shaft 161.

jecting'upwardly from arm 140 carries a pair of spaced-bearings 139' and 141 in an overhanging portion 142a thereof which serve to support the inner end of shaft 137 at' spaced points. Shaft 137 extends forwardly and carries a gear 143 upon .its outer extremity where it. is supported by a bearing 145 carried in a bracket 145a, the latter being secured to arm 146 adjacent its outer end. Shaft 138 carrying roll 134 upon its inner end and a gear 144 upon its outer end is journaled in bearings 146 and 147 carried in the ends of an adjustable bearing sleeve 148. Sleeve 148 is pivoted at its outer end to bracket 145a by pins 149 and slides within bracket 142 which latter braekat is bifurcated to permit vertical movement of the sleeve therein to allow adjustment ofshaft 138 androll 134 towardand from roll 133. -The inner end of sleeve 148 is provided with two ears 150 which abut against lugs 151 integral with wardly by springs 152 surrounding studs 153, the

latter passing through ears 150 and lugs 151. The tension of springs 153 may be varied by means of nut 154. The two shafts 137 and 138 are driven from a third shaft 155 journaled in bearing 156 in bracket 145a and bearing 157 in bearing block 157a. Shaft 155 carries a gear 158 upon its outer end engaging gear 144 and a gear 159 upon its inner end which latter gear engages Shaft 161 also carries a sprocket 162 which is in line with a sprocket 163 on shaft 71 whereby achain 164 passing over these two sprockets causes rolls 133 and 134 to be positively driven from shaft 71.

It 'is noted that by the manner of journaling shafts137 and 138 'the inner ends of the rollers 133 and 134 are left free in order that any material caught therebetween may be pulled out between the open inner ends of the rollers. Rollers 133 and 134 are rotated at a speed to feed the blanks a little faster than the chain 126 would feed them, thus preventing any crowding of the blanks on the detecting table. The rolls pass the-blanks onto table 22. under the cover 29 and under presser fingers 34 which prevent the blank from being'fed too far. In passing through the rolls 132, 133, 134, and;136 the blank is given a reverse bend being first bent upwardly from roll 132 to andbetween rolls 133 and'134 and then downwardly under roll 136 as clearly shown in Fig. 12. This preparation of the blank facilitates tions around the edge of the can when formed. In order that the amount of fiexure of the blanks may be varied the idler rollers 132 and 136, are made adjustable being supported upon centers 167 (Figs. 3 and 7),, secured in members 168, the latter members being generally of the [form of quarter cylinders and serving also as ter'nately from the two stacks to table 22 thus the feed bars 101 need be driven only at one half the speed of feed bars 24 and the entire feeding mechanism of each feeding and preparing unit need operate only at half the speed of the forming mechanism thus allowing the feeding and preparing mechanism suflicient time to function properly. It is also to be noted that the lower roll 134 may be urged so tightly against the upper roll'133 as to squeeze the blanks passing .therebetween toa slight extent to aid in the forming action by giving additional curvature to the blanks in the rolling action.

Inasmuch as the operation of the'machine was discussed during the description thereof it is not deemed necessary to give a detailed description of the operations of the various elements comprisin'g'the complete machine. It is believed to be suflicient to merely summarize the operation by pointing out that the entire mechanism is driven from the central shaft ,4 which in turn drives the main crank shaft 11. The latter shaft serving to drive the two main feeding shafts 71 of the feeding units. Each shaft 71 drives its transverse crank. shaft 64 from which the platforms 49 are elevated, feed bars 101 reciprocated and suction line 79 connected at'the proper intervals. The feed chain 126 is also driven from the shaft 71. As previously pointed out the blanks are supported in two stacks in two maga-' zines one upon each side of the slide and are removed alternately therefrom by means of the suction cups 76 and fed therefrom by feed bars 101 which latter bars carry the blanks to the intermediate or detecting table from which the j the forming of the blank into a cylindrical form and also substantially eliminates any flat secblanks are fed by means of chain 126 and led into the bight of rolls 133 and 134. These rolls flex the blank by giving it a reverse bend and deposit the blank on the table 22 at the forward end of the slide. The feed bars lying adjacent each side of the slide then feed the blanks in step-like movements down the slide to the forming mechanism (not shown).

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the details of construction and operation without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a can making .machine, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, a slide for conveying blanks to a common operating mechanism for operating upon each of said blanks, means for feeding blanks to said slide comprising a pair of feeding units each comprising fin,- gers for-removing blanks from the bottom of alternate stacks and transferring said blanks to said slide.

2. In a can making machine, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks'of blanks, a slide for conveying blanks to a forming mechanism, means for feeding blanks successively to said slide cornprising feeding units comprising fingers for removing blanks from the bottom of said stacks, and additional means for receiving the blanks from said first feeding means and transferring the blanks from alternate stacks to said slide.

3. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a forming mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, said magazines being positioned forwardly and laterally to one side of said slide, means for feeding blanks successively to said slide comprising fingers for removing the lowermost blank from each stack and feeding the blank rearwardly, additional fingers for engaging the blanks and carrying them inwardly toward said slide, said feeding mechanism for each stack being timed relatively to the other to feed the blanks successively from alternate stacks to said slide.

4. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a forming mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, said magazines being positioned forwardly and laterally to one side of said slide, means for adjusting the position of each of said magazines relatively to said slide, means for feeding blarks successively to said slide comprising fingers for removing the lowermost blank from each stack and feeding the sheet rearwardly, and additional fingers for engaging the blanks and carrying them inwardly toward said slide, said feeding mechanism for each stack being timed relatively 'to the other to feed the blanks successively from alternate stacks to the forming mechanism.

5. In a blank feeding mechanism, a feeding device for conveying blanks to an operating mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, means for feeding blanks to said device comprising reciprocating fingers for removing the lowermost sheet from each of said stacks and transferring the sheets to a position intermediate the magazines and feeding devices, transfer means having fingers thereon for delivering the sheets from said intermediate position to said device.

6. In a can making machine, a feeding device for conveying blanks to an operating mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks a table for the blanks disposed between said device and said operating mechanism, means for feeding blanks successively to said device comprising feeding devices for removing the lowermost blank from said stacks and'depositing the blanks upon said table, a feed chain for removing the blanks from said table and delivering them to said device.

7. In a can making machine, a device'for conveying blanks to an operating mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, a table for the blanks disposed between said device and said operating mechanism, means for feeding blanks successively to said slide comprising reciprocating feed bars for removing the lowermost blank from said stacks and depositing the blanks upon said table, a feed chain for removing the blanks from said table and delivering them to said device.

8. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a forming mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, means for feeding blanks to a common position on said slide comprising feeding units having fingers for removing blanks from the bottom of alternate stacks and transferring said blanks to said slide, and means for preventing the transfer of more than one blank from each stack at a time.

9. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to an operating mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, an intermediate station between said magazines and said slide means for feeding blanks to said slide comprising reciprocating fingers for removing the lowermost sheet from each of said stacks and transferring the sheets to said intermediate station, transfer means having fingers thereon for delivering the sheets from said intermediate station to said slide, and means at each of said intermediate stations for preventing more than one sheet at a time from passing therethrough.

10. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing blanks prior to the body making operation comprising a pair of contacting rolls having their point of contact above the plane of said slide and a pair of rolls one upon each side of said first mentioned rolls and positioned with the lowermost portion of their peripheries below the point of contact of said first two mentioned rolls.

11. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing blanks prior to the body making operation comprising a pair of contacting rolls having their point of contact above the plane of said slide and a pair of rolls one upon each side of said first mentioned rolls and positioned with the lowermost portion of their peripheries below the point of contact of said first two mentioned rolls, and means for positively rotating said contacting rolls.

12. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing blanks prior to the body makign operation comprising a pair of contacting rolls having their point of contact above the plane of said slide, and a pair of rolls one upon each side 9i .8116. first mentioned rolls and positioned with lot the lowermost portion of their peripheries below the point of contact of said first two mentioned.

a plurality of rolls arranged relativelyfto each other and between which the blanks are fed to cause the blanks to be given a reverse bend in passing therethrough, and means for resiliently urging said rolls together.

14. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said body making mechanism for preparing blanks prior to the body making operation comprising a plurality of rolls arranged relatively to each other and between which the blanks are fed to cause the blanks to be given a reverse bend in passing therethrough, means for resiliently urging said rolls together, and means for positively rotating said rolls.

15. In a can making machine, a slide for conveying blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing blanks prior to the body making operation comprising a plurality of rolls arranged relatively to each other and between which the blanks are fed to cause the blanks to be given a reverse bend in passing therethrough, means for resiliently urging said rolls together, and means for varying the compression between said rolls.

16. In a can making machine, a bed, a slide thereon for conveying blanks to a forming mechanism, a frame upon each side of said slide carried by said bed and adjustable thereon, feed-' ing means on each of said frames for delivering blanks alternately to said slide and means for adjusting said frames toward and from said slide to accommodate the machine for different sized blanks.

1'7. In a can making machine, a slide for grinding blanks to a body making mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, means for feeding blanks alternately from each of said magazines to said slide and means in-" .termediate each of said feeding mechanisms and.

said slide for preparing the blanks comprising a plurality of rolls arranged adjacent each other and between which the blanks are fed to cause the blanks to be bent when passing therethrough.

18. In a can making machine, a plurality of blank magazines, means including a slide and a series of spaced feeding devices adapte d to convey blanks past a series of devices in spaced succession, and means for feeding blanks in timed sequence from alternate magazines to a common point on said conveying means.

19. In a can making machine, the combination with a plurality of similar blank holding magazines, a slide for guiding blanks to a common operating mechanism 'for operating upon each of said blanks and means for. conveying blanks along the slide in spaced relation, of

means for feeding blanks in timed sequence suc-f cessively from alternate magazines to said slide comprising a feeding unit associated with each magazine for feeding blanks alternately from said magazines to a common initial position upon said slide.

20. In a can making machine, a slide for guiding blanks to a body making mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting. stacks of blanks, means for feedingblanks alternately from each of said magazines to said slide and means intermediate each of said feeding mechanisms and said slide and between which the blanks are fed to cause the blanks to be bent when passing therethrough.-:

21. In a blank feeding'mechanism, feeding devices for conveying blanks to an operating mechanism, a pair of magazines for supporting stacks of blanks, means for feeding blanks to said devices comprising reciprocating fingers for removing the lowermost sheet from each of said stacks and transferring the sheets to a position intermediate the magazines and feeding devices, and transfer means for delivering the sheets from said intermediate position to said device.

22. In a can making machine, a slide for guiding blanks to a bodymaking mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, and means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing and feeding the blanks, said latter means comprising a plurality of rolls between which the blanks are fed, the rolls being so disposed with their axes spaced from each other in a horizontal direction as well as in a vertical direction and with the blank contacting surfaces thereof displaced from the blank line of movement as to deflect the blanks from their normal path in such a manner as to impart a reverse bend to the blanks as they pass through said preparing means.

23. In a can making machine, a slide for guiding blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, and means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing and feeding the blanks, said preparing and feeding means comprising a plurality of rolls arranged adjacent each other with their axes parallel and spaced from each other in horizontal and vertical directions, and means for positively rotating certain of 'said rolls to feed the blanks toward the said slide.

24. In a can making machine, a slide for guiding blanks to a body making mechanism, means for feeding blanks to said slide, and means intermediate said feeding mechanism and said slide for preparing and feeding blanks prior to delivery upon said slide, said preparing and feeding means comprising a pair of contacting rolls having their point of contact above the plane of said slide, a guide upon each side of said rolls and spaced therefrom in a horizontal direction to 

